MI vs RCB IPL 2026: Mumbai Indians will likely be without their stand-in skipper Suryakumar Yadav for a must-win match against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru later this week. He did not travel to Raipur with the rest of the team, who departed Mumbai on Wednesday.
Matters have worsened for the former champions, as regular skipper Hardik Pandya has also skipped the trip. Pandya, sidelined against Lucknow Super Giants by back spasms, was absent when the team reached the airport. Reports indicate uncertainty regarding his return before the match.
According to PTI, MI coaches and support staff traveled to Raipur in separate groups. With limited flights from Mumbai to Raipur, it remains to be seen how this fragmented travel impacts their practice ahead of the decisive match.
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Ryan Rickleton, speaking about Hardik's absence, said he first learned of it on Monday but remains confident Hardik will rejoin the playing XI soon.
"I don’t know when he’ll return. I only learned this afternoon about his back spasms. I’m unsure of the severity of his condition. But I’m confident he’ll rejoin us in Raipur this week," Rickleton said during the post-match press conference.
If Suryakumar and Pandya remain unavailable, Rohit could lead the side once again. This poses a challenge, as Rohit has just recovered from a hamstring injury. The team management will assess his fitness on Sunday morning before making a decision.
ROHIT'S PAISA VASOOL RETURN
His fitness has drawn attention since his match-winning performance against Lucknow. Despite playing as an impact player without fielding, he showed flashes of his former brilliance.
Chasing a daunting target of 229 runs in Mumbai, Rohit silenced critics with a match-winning knock of 84 off 44 balls. He smashed seven sixes and four fours, forging a 143-run opening partnership with Rickleton. Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh called the performance "complete paisa vasool," keeping MI's playoff hopes alive.
If all three players are absent, Mumbai might appoint Jasprit Bumrah or Tilak Varma as captain. The stakes are high. MI sits ninth, with just three wins in ten games. To reach the playoffs, they must win their remaining four matches and rely on favorable outcomes elsewhere.